5 to 3 petition deadline draws near for signatures
Proponents to decrease number of county commissioners need at least 351 signatures by March 1st
by Pinedale Online!
February 17, 2012
Proponents who wish to reverse the recent special election expanding the Sublette County Commissioners from the current 3 to 5 have until February 29th to gather the required minimum of 351 verified signatures of registered voters in order to get the measure on the ballot once again for a second vote.
The 3 to 5 campaign succeeded in gathering the same number of required signatures last year and a special election was held on August 16th, in which voters passed the ballot measure to up the number of county commissioners in Sublette County from 3 to 5. The measure passed with 562 votes in favor and 531 opposed. Under that vote, the new commissioners would be voted on this November at the regular election. Voters would choose three new commissioners at that time: installing the two new ones, and the seat currently held by John Linn which will be up for reelection.
In the fall of 2011, citizens who were unhappy with the vote to increase the number of commissioners from 3 to 5 began another petition campaign to reverse that vote, which is legal. To gain a new election, they must obtain the legal signatures of at least 351 registered voters and turn the petitions into the Sublette County Clerk before March 1, 2012.
The Back to 3 petition will be available in the Board Room of the Sublette County Library from February 17th through February 29th between 3 to 6 PM (excluding Saturday and Sunday). Signature gatherers will be at the Big Piney Library on February 24th from 10AM to 3PM. Signers MUST be registered voters in Sublette County and they must sign their signature the way it appears on the voter registration polls with the County (the petition people will have a list of registered voters with them to check voter registration status, name spellings and addresses.)
To make other arrangements to sign, interested persons can call Andy O’Neal at 307-360-8771 or Shari Pape at 307-360-6910. O’Neal emphasized that some of the signatures that were given have been excluded for technical details, such as not matching the exact way the name is shown on the voter registration list with the county or address changes. "I am willing to come to them to get their signature. If any group of friends, neighbors, or supporters wants to meet, I will come to their location…I will be available by phone and willing to meet any day until March 1st," O’Neal said. He asks anyone who has previously signed the petition to please call or stop by so they can verify the signatures and addresses are correct and match the official registered voter rolls to make sure all the signatures are valid and will count.
Related Links
Petition seeks return to three-member commission - Sublette Examiner, November 14, 2011
Sublette County Attorney responds to legality of 5 to 3 petition - Sublette County Attorney, November 11, 2011
Petition to decrease the Commissioners - Mary Lankford, Sublette County Clerk, November 10, 2011
Sublette County to go from 3 to 5 Commissioners - Pinedale Online! August 16, 2011
Sublette County Commissioners: Stay at 3? Go to 5? - Pinedale Online, KPIN radio audio arguments pro and con, August 15, 2011
Three Commissioners or five? - Pinedale Online, May 20, 2011
Option of five commissioners to be on August ballot - Pinedale Roundup, May 19, 2011
The cost of adding more County Commissioners - Pinedale Online, March 29, 2011
Sublette County Commissioners - County website
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